The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-19
oFFAL COLLECTION.
Report of the Special Committee OF
Investigation
Appointed by the Aldermen and
Board of Health.
The Work Accomplished In Massa'
chusetts Cities.

At meeting of the City Council, held Oct
Both, special committee from the Board O.
Mayor and Aldermen, composed OF Alder
men II. G. Briggs, II. Fl. Kicker and V. Z
Wilson, together with the Board Of Health
was appointed to visit Boston and its neigh
boring cities, for the purpose Of making per
sonal examination and study OF the system
of offal collections and disposal there il
vogue. The COMMITTEES attended to that duIl
and have prepared the following report;
Your committee, accompanied by thu
Board of Health, visited the cities OF Cam
bridge, Chelsea, Lowell, Salem and Lynn
believing that these cities. by reason of thei
territory and population, afforded fair com
parison with our own city, and that any sys
tenn which had there proved successful
could, with changes suited to our peculiar
wants, be successfully adopted here.
REPORT.
In each city visited, the fullest opportnni
ty was afforded for thorough examinatloi
Of methods, their cost and results, ant
wherever desired, practical illustrator
was given of their materials ana work; "A a.
| order to contrast and compare the metnod
pursued in these cities with our own, we oil
rected our examination to the systems EN-
ployed in the collection and disposal OF
list, house and other offal (swilD; "a, ashes
and house Dirt Sd, night-soil And we gly'
in detail the result OF this examination II
each of these cities.
CAMBRIDGE, POPULATION 60,O0O.
The offal is removed from all houses
stores and markets under charge OF the
Overseers of the Poor, with whom the ser
vice is voluntary, and not prescribed by any
law or ordinance. The collection Is made by
ten to twelve one-horse teams, each having
two men, who are paid 81 per day.
The city is divided into six districts, and
all houses are visited at least twice week
The offal is deposited in a building kept fol
the purpose, and is sold to farmers at 30 tc
$3.50 per cord Not more than TWO com
plants per month are made OF the service.
The expense from Jan. / to Oct. wa:
$12, 77946, and collections from offal solo
was $5,50246.
Ashes and house dirt, tree trimmings and
grass are removed by the street department
The city is divided into six districts, each Of
which is visited on certain 1xed DAY oL tnt
week, and barrels placed by householder:
are taken from sidewalks From four 10 te1
teams are employed in this work, or an aver
age of seven teams during the year Int
ashes are used to fill lowlands or extensions
of streets, with the exception OF small guam,
titles, which are sold to land owners anc
used for filling. Drivers of teams are paic
S2OS, and helpers S2.04 per day. The teams
wagons, horse and harness) cost $3.50 eacn
Night-soi is removed by contractor, wht
is allowed to charge 81 for each load OF o
cubic feet, and the same for fractional par
of a load, 1t is removed either night or day
but chiefly by day, in an odorless excavator
owned by the contractor, who uses both TIM
New Haven and Baltimore patterns. Ha
to be hauled ten ar twelve miles, where IL i
composted. 1t is not much sought for use D.
rlxaf orIa 10 M Q6anfQ(
to the crops they raise in this vicinity.
CHELSEA, POPULATION 27,0O0.
Offal is removed from houses, stores ant
markets by contractor, who receives 5000
per year; the contract is for term OF three
years; previous to this year the price palc
was $1,000 per year.
The contractor employs two or three team;
and hauls the loads two miles, where 1t Ii
sold at $3.50 per cord. The drivers OF the
teams report daily to the secretary OF the
Board of Health, who attends to all com
plants, which do not average one week
The city is divided by the contractor into
districts, so that in case of need, the teams
may readily be found.
Ashes and house dirt are removed Dy
contractor, who receives $4,000 per year fol
the work, and employs sufficient number Of
teams to make collections from one OF tht
| six districts into which the city is divided
each dav. About 15,C00 loads are removed
Us
| and school houses. Barrels are taken from
| yards. but are left ON the sidewalks or II
| passageways. The ashes are used to I'LL low
| lands or street extensions, or sold at II cent
| per load. All orders and complaints ar
| sent TO the Office Of the Board Of Health.
| Night-soilis is removed by contractor VIII
| is allowed to charge S5 per load of so cubi
| feet, and the same for the fractional part o
| a load. All vaults must be cleaned out one
| q year, and any new vaults must be made o
kfrwl.f nhn Of
has supervision and grants the licenses.
LOWELL, POPULATION 10000
Offal is collected by the city, with the ex
ception Of that from the corporation board
ing houses, which disposes of 1t to private
contractors. Six teams are employed In lts
collection, requiring the services OF twelve
men, who are paid So per day. Tho offal !:
hauled to house on the bank OF a river
where it Is sold at 25 cents per barrel. col
lections are made twice or three times
week according to the season, under the
supervision of the Board of Health.
Ashes and house dirt are collected by the
city. Thirteen teams and rs men are EN-
ployed, the men receiving So per day. Bar
rels are taken from and left on the side
walks. The ashes are hauled to dumps, bu
it Is becoming a problem, difficult Of solu
tion, as to where they can be placed IN.
expense last year was SIS, 700 for this branci
of the department.
Night-soil is removed by two contractors
each taking one-half of the city. Each con
tractor uses an odorless excavotor and air
| tight barrels, which are his property. Thel
are allowed to charge 50 per load OF so cubi
| feet, or fractional part Of load. They sci
| to the farmers at 81 per load. One con
| tractor removed 1000 leads last year. Thl
| removal is always done in the day time, ant
| the removal of offal, ashes, and night-soi
| is done under the supervision Of the Boart
| of Health.
| SALEM, POPULATION 28,000.
Offal with the exception of fish offal
| which is delivered to private parties) Is col
leeted by the city under direction OF thu
| Board Of Health.
| There are three teams and six men en-
/ gagged in the collection, which is made twie
| a week. The men receive 81 per day. Tn
| 0ffal is sold, delivered on farm just out
side the city, or at the offal house, for
| cents q cord foot. Each cart holds thre
cord feet, and collects two loads day. Tn,
work is done very well and few complaint
| are made.
| Ashes are not collected by the city, bu
each householder disposes Of his own, in hi
| own way.
| Night-soil is collected by the city at
charge to the householder Of S150 for a loa
| of so cubic feet, which is paid to the Healtl
/ Department This price, however, Is ia
too low and win have to be raised. The col
i lection is made in the day time in coyerel
Il wagons, ana ndulcQ 10 u IdIIn III lut Oul
skirts of the city, where it is composted
mostly with spent tan; one-half the com
| post belongs to the city, and is sold at fror
So to $3.50 per cord.
The appropriation for collecting offal an
| night soil was S6,SS3.30. Up to October Isl
| S2,063 had been collected.
LYNN, POPULATION $1,000.
This city, under supervision Of its healt
| department, collects all otfal, ashes, hous
| dirt and night soil.
Offal of all kinds is collected three times
| week in summer, and twice a week in VIII
ter. The wagons, five in number, whic
| cost about $500 apiece, are hauled by on
horse each, and are each accompanied b
two men who receive 81 day each. III
offal is sold, so far as purchasers can B
found, at so cents foot, but at least on
half has to be composted into manure
which finds dull sale at $50 per cord. III
offal pays about 0ne-third of the cost OF co
lecting.
| Ashes are collected in large carts whic
hold from 30 to 60 cubic feet. Barrels al
taken from the sidewalk only. -Four team
are employed in the summer and more In u
winter. A team collects from 10 to IA loa6
| day. When sold to private parties Tor III
ing it brings ten cents a load: Enough
sold to pay about one sixth of the cost. :.
The culverts and catch basins of the eli
| are also cleaned under the supervision OF II
Board of Health. In this work 1t emplo,
| one team and from ten to twelve men. Gu
| yerts are always cleaned at least once yea
but in some localities they are cleant
| Oftener.
Night-soil is collected in covered wagor